Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-15
commissioner Blacks Report.


Gen. John Q. Black. commissioner of PEN
sions, il his annual report TO the Secretary
OF the Interior makes the following sugges'
tions:
First. The allowance of $2 per month to
minor children entitled to pension is made
ouate for their support, and should be in
creased 10 So per month. Second. That the
&C; of June 16, $780, be so amended as topper
init the benefits OF the act to be extended TO
thoss who subsequent 10 the date of its ap-
proval from aggravation of their malady may
have become helpless. Third. That the ex-
isting law that widows pension certificate
can cny bear date from the day on which
she FLEA her application should be amended
10 allow the commencement Of the pension
10 date from the death Of the husband, tho
ether conditions required by the law being
present. Fourth. That section q, us of the
Revised Statutes be so amended rs to
prohibits the payment Of more than one
pension to the same person. Fifth. That the
law requiring pension TO be graded accord.
ing to ne rank Of the claimant at the time
the injury was received should be amended
30 that the rank subsequently acquired bona
fide may be considered by the commissioner
10 determining the amount of pension 10 be
allowed. Sixth. That the present rate for
deafness should be increased by law TO $50
per month for total deafness, with iGterme
diate grades TO be determined according to
the degree OF disability. Seventh. That dis
cretion should be lodged in the commissioner
liz correcting discrepancies in rates of pen
sion for less of limbs, or Congress should be
asked 20 establish table of rates for loss of
litnbs. Eighth. That the law be amended so
that the commissioner shall be authorized
to pay the pension to the wife of pension
err or to s. suitable person On behalf OF his
children, when the habits of lhe pensioner
snow him 10 be an unfit person to receive or
disbprse the pension. Ninth. That an ap'
propration Of $4,000 be made to defray the
expenses of additional necessary pension
agencies Tenth. That an additional clerical
force TO allowed &c enable the commission
e1s, without making extra demands upon
the clerks now in service, TO complete and
satisfy the Mexican pension claims, of
which 5000 have been allowed since the
passage of the act. The report shows that
there were at the close of the year 406, 007
pensioners classified as follows: 294, AS army
invalids 5000 army widows, minor child
Fen and dependent relatives 3,2S1 navy
invalids 1878 navy widows, minor child
rem and dependent relatives; 1O69 survi-
vors Of tho war of 1912, and II ,S31 widows Of
those who served in that war; 1903 survivors
of the war with Mexico, and S95 widows Of
those who served in said war. There were
added to the rolls during the year the names
of 55 ,194 new pensioners and the names of
2,707 whose pensions had been previously
! dropped were restored To the rolls. During
the same period the names of 1857 pen
sioners were dropped from toe rolls for Va
rious causes. The average annual value
OF each pension at the c'ose of the year is
shown TO be 5000, q gain OF average and
value over last year of $7.S7. The aeere-
gate annual value OF all pensions is S52,.
| S24, ,641, an increase of like value for the
year Of $S,116,633 The amount paid for
pensions during the year was S73, ,467 $751; an
F! Increase in amount over the previous year
of 50 &C., ,750. The amount paid TO 44019
new pensioners during the year upon first
payment was S25, ,166, 800, and there remain
ed in the hands of the several pension agents
| IA ,6S3 of this class unpaid ct the close of
| business on the 30th day of June, on which
there was due S3924, ,7S3. 1t appears that
in the aggregate 1,091.200 pension claims
have been filed since 1861, and in the same
period 67694S claims Of all classes have
been allowed. During the year So, 1914 orig
inai certificates we're issued, q greater num-
! ber than was ever before issued by the bu-
reau in any one year.
The commissioner in his estimates for the
| coming year, asks for two additional chiefs
of division at $4,000 each per anrum, fifty
additional clerks at 81 200 each per annum,
Gfty additional clerks at 81 600 each per an.
num- The following are the estimates for
the fiscal year ending June so, 1883: Sala-
ries, S2,144,330; investigation of pension
claims, 1925 900; repairs and improvements
to building, s6S, 500; pensions, s75,0OO,000;
examining surgeons, 100000; pension
agents and agencies. S312 400; total, $40 ,045,
go The appropriation for tho last fiscal
year was $40, ,701, $50